Price  • Twenty- Five  cents 

Copyright,  (9(9,  by 

The  Talmud  Society 

Boston.  Mass.,  0.  S.A. 


WmmGfo . 1 
Mai? 


WISDOM  AND  WIT 
OF  THE  TALMUD 

(Compiled  for  The  Talmud  Society,  Boston, 

Mass.,  U.  S.  A.,  by  Harry  Albro’  Woodworth) 

♦ 

♦ ♦ 

He  who  occupies  himself  with  the  study  of  the 
Talmud,  pursues  a course  than  which  there  is 
none  better. 

♦ 

THE  GOLDEN  RULES  OF  THE  TALMUD 

Whatever  would  be  hateful  to  thee,  do  not  do 
to  thy  neighbor. 

That  which  thou  likest  not  being  done  unto 
thyself,  do  not  do  unto  thy  neighbor. 

Thou  Shalt  not  leave  thy  neighbor  to  suffer 
any  pain  whatsoever,  but  thou  shalt  prevent  it 
by  supplying  him  with  whatsoever  thou  canst 
afford. 

♦ 

CHARITY  AND  LOVE 

Almsgiving  is  practised  by  means  of  money, 
but  charity  also  by  personal  services  and  by 
words  of  advice,  sympathy  and  encouragement. 

2 


WISDOM  AND  WIT 


Almsgiving  is  a duty  towards  the  rich  as  well  as 
the  poor,  nay,  even  towards  the  dead. 

He  who  turns  away  from  works  of  love  and 
charity  turns  away  from  God. 

The  works  of  charity  have  more  value  than 
sacrifice;  they  are  equal  to  the  performance  of  all 
religious  duties. 

The  merit  of  charitable  works  is  in  proportion 
to  the  love  with  which  they  are  practised. 

Rather  skin  a carcass  for  pay  in  the  public 
streets  than  lie  idly  dependent  upon  charity. 

Even  he  who  lives  in  charity  should  practise 
benevolence. 

♦ 

DO  GOOD  FOR  ITS  OWN  SAKE 

Be  not  like  the  servants  who  serve  their  mas- 
ters for  the  sake  of  reward. 

Whatever  thou  doest  let  it  be  done  in  the  name 
of  Heaven. 

♦ 

DUTY  OF  ACQUIRING  KNOWLEDGE 

Without  knowledge  there  is  no  true  morality 
and  piety. 

The  more  knowledge  the  more  spiritual  life. 

Be  eager  to  acquire  knowledge;  it  does  not 
come  to  thee  by  inheritance. 

If  thou  hast  acquired  knowledge,  what  dost 
thou  lack?  But  if  thou  lackest  knowledge,  what 
hast  thou  acquired? 

He  whose  knowledge  is  great  without  its  in- 
fluencing his  moral  life  is  like  a tree  that  has 
many  branches,  but  few  and  weak  roots;  a storm 
cometh  and  overturneth  it. 


3 


WISDOM  AND  WIT 


The  ultimate  end  of  all  knowledge  and  wisdom 
Is  man’s  Inner  purification  and  the  performance 
of  good  and  noble  deeds. 

♦ 

CHEER 

God’s  commandments  are  intended  to  enhance 
the  value  and  enjoyment  of  life,  but  not  to  mar 
it  and  make  it  gloomy. 

If  thou  hast  the  means,  enjoy  life’s  innocent 
pleasures. 

That  which  beautifies  life  and  gives  it 
strength,  such  as  riches  and  honor,  is  suitable  to 
the  pious,  and  agreeable  for  the  world  at  large. 

♦ 

RELIGION  AND  TOLERANCE 

Religion  is  the  light  of  the  world. 

Support  the  aged  without  reference  to  religion. 

♦ 

GOD’S  WILL  AND  MAN’S  DUTY 

Do  God’s  will  as  thy  own  will;  submit  thy  will 
to  His  will. 

Be  bold  as  a leopard,  swift  as  a roe,  and  strong 
as  a lion  to  do  the  will  of  thy  Father  who  is  In 
Heaven. 

♦ 

MAN’S  ACCOUNTABILITY  TO  GOD 

Consider  three  things,  and  thou  wilt  never  fall 
Into  sin:  Remember  that  there  is  above  thee  an 
all-seeing  eye,  an  all-hearing  ear,  and  a record 
of  all  thy  actions. 

Consider  three  things,  and  thou  wilt  never  sin: 
Remember  whenst  thou  comest,  whither  thou 
goest,  and  before  whom  thou  wilt  have  to  render 
account  for  thy  doings. 


4 


OF  THE  TALMUD 


He  who  raises  his  hand  to  strike  his  neighbor 
is  already  considered  wicked  even  before  he  has 
smitten  him. 

♦ 

FREEDOM  OF  WILL 

Everything  is  foreordained  by  Heaven,  except 
the  fear  of  Heaven. 

Everything  is  ordained  by  God’s  providence, 
but  freedom  of  choice  is  given  to  man. 

♦ 

LABOR 

Love  labor,  and  hate  to  be  a lord. 

Great  is  the  dignity  of  labor;  it  honors  man. 

Beautiful  is  the  intellectual  occupation,  If  com- 
bined with  some  practical  work. 

He  who  does  not  teach  his  son  a handicraft 
trade  neglects  his  duty. 

Better  is  he  who  lives  on  the  toil  of  his  hand 
than  he  who  indulges  in  idle  piety. 

♦ 

COUNTY  AND  COMMUNITY 

The  law  of  the  country  is  as  sacred  and  as 
binding  as  God's  law. 

Pray  for  the  welfare  of  the  government;  with- 
out respect  for  the  government,  men  would  swal- 
low one  another. 

Do  not  isolate  thyself  from  the  community  and 
Its  interests. 

Those  who  work  for  the  community  shall  do  it 
without  selfishness,  but  with  the  pure  intention 
to  promote  its  welfare. 

Do  not  aspire  for  public  office;  but  where  there 
are  no  men  try  to  be  the  man. 


WISDOM  AND  WIT 


Blessed  Is  he  who  gives  from  his  substance  to 
the  poor;  twice  blessed  he  who  accompanies  the 
gift  with  kind,  comforting  words. 

The  noblest  of  all  charities  is  enabling  the  poor 
to  earn  a livelihood. 

As  a garment  is  made  up  of  single  threads,  so 
every  single  gift  contributes  to  accomplish  a 
great  work  of  charity. 

Do  not  separate  thyself  from  society. 

Man’s  thoughts  and  ways  shall  always  be  In 
contact  and  sympathy  with  fellow-men. 

No  one  shall  depart  from  the  general  customs 
and  manners. 

♦ 

PARENTS  AND  CHILDREN 

One  child  must  not  be  preferred  to  the  other. 

It  is  a father’s  duty  not  only  to  provide  for  his 
minor  children,  but  also  to  take  care  of  their  in- 
struction, and  to  teach  his  son  a trade  and  what- 
ever is  necessary  for  his  future  welfare. 

Where  children  honor  their  parents,  there  God 
dwells,  there  He  Is  honored. 

THE  CONJUGAL  RELATION 

First  build  a house  and  plant  a vineyard;  and 
then  take  a wife. 

A man’s  home  means  his  wife. 

Let  a man  be  careful  to  honor  his  wife,  for  he 
owes  to  her  above  all  the  blessings  of  his  house. 

Who  Is  rich?  He  who  has  a noble  wife. 

A man  should  be  careful  lest  he  cause  his  wife 
to  weep,  for  God  counts  her  tears. 

In  in  anger  the  one  hand  removed  thy  wife  and 
child,  let  the  other  hand  bring  them  back  to  thy 
heart. 

Woman  prefers  poverty  with  the  affection  of 
her  husband  to  riches  without  it. 


6 


OF  THE  TALMUD 


Love  your  wife  like  yourself;  honor  her  more 
than  yourself. 

An  unkind  wife  Is  a mental  affliction. 

He  who  loves  his  wife  as  his  own  self,  and 
honors  her  more  than  himself,  and  he  who  edu- 
cates his  children  in  the  right  way,  to  him  ap- 
plies the  divine  promise:  Thou  shalt  know  that 
there  is  peace  in  thy  tent. 

Tears  are  shed  on  God's  altar  for  the  one  who 
forsakes  the  wife  of  his  youth. 

Let  youth  and  old  age  not  be  joined  in  mar- 
riage, lest  the  purity  and  peace  of  domestic  life 
be  disturbed. 

If  thy  wife  is  small  bend  down  to  her  to  take 
counsel  from  her. 

He  who  lives  without  a wife  is  no  perfect  man. 

To  be  unmarried  is  to  live  without  blessing, 
without  kindness,  and  without  peace. 

As  soon  as  a man  marries  his  sins  decrease. 

♦ 

JUSTICE.  TRUTH  AND  PEACE 

The  world  rests  on  three  things — on  Justice, 
on  Truth,  and  on  Peace. 

♦ 

Justice 

Thy  neighbor’s  property  must  be  as  sacred  to 
thee  as  thine  own. 

Thy  neighbor's  honor  must  be  as  dear  to  thee 
as  thine  own. 

♦ 

Truth 

Truth  is  the  signet  of  God,  the  Most  Holy. 

Let  thy  yea  be  in  truth  and  thy  nay  in  truth. 

Truth  Is  heavy;  therefore  few  carry  It. 

Truth  lasts  forever,  but  falsehood  must  vanish. 


7 


WISDOM  AND  WIT 


To  be  faithless  to  a given  promise  is  as  sinful 
as  idolatry. 

To  break  a verbal  engagement,  though  it  is  not 
legally  binding,  is  a moral  wrong. 

It  Is  sinful  to  deceive  any  man,  even  is  he  be 
a heathen. 

He  who  deceives  his  neighbor  would  also  de- 
ceive his  God. 

Deception  in  words  is  as  great  a sin  as  decep- 
tion in  money  matters. 

When  the  immortal  soul  shall  be  called  to  ac- 
count before  the  Divine  Tribunal,  the  first  ques- 
tion will  be,  “Hast  thou  been  honest  and  faith- 
ful In  all  thy  dealings  with  thy  fellow-men?” 

♦ 

Peacefulness 

Peace  is  the  vessel  in  which  all  God's  blessings 
are  presented  to  use  and  preserved  by  us. 

Be  a disciple  of  Aaron,  loving  peace  and  pur- 
suing peace. 

Be  humble  to  thy  superior,  affable  to  thy  in- 
ferior, and  meet  every  man  with  friendliness. 

He  who  is  slow  to  anger,  and  easily  pacified,  is 
truly  pious  and  virtuous. 

Man,  be  ever  soft  and  pliant  like  a reed,  and 
not  hard  and  unbending  like  the  cedar. 

❖ 

SCHOLARS  AND  TEACHERS 

The  rivalry  of  scholars  advances  science. 

Four  things  are  derogatory  to  scholars:  To 
walk  alone  in  the  dark  (thus  arousing  sus- 
picion); to  be  perfumed;  to  be  the  last  in  enter- 
ing a house  of  prayer;  and  to  hold  much  dis- 
course at  a meeting  of  dunces. 

There  are  three  different  kinds  among  scholars: 
One  who  is  able  to  ask  questions,  and  to  answer 
them,  is  a wise  one:  one  who  is  only  able  to  ask 
8 


OF  THE  TALMUD 


questions,  but  not  to  answer  them,  is  Inferior  to 
him;  but  he  who  is  able  neither  to  ask  nor 
answer  questions,  is  not  to  be  considered  at  all. 

Who  are  you  whose  prayers  alone  have  pre- 
vailed? I am  a teacher  of  little  children. 

Do  not  exact  pay  for  thy  teachings;  for  the 
Omnipotent  has  given  His  teachings  to  thee  gra- 
tuitously, for  the  one  who  asks  for  reward  de- 
stroys the  whole  world;  because  there  are  many 
who  cannot  afford  to  pay,  and  v III  remain 
Ignorant. 

♦ 

PHYSICIANS 

Wait  not  to  honor  the  physician  till  thou  tall- 
est sick. 

Medicine  is  a science  whose  practice  is  author- 
ized by  God  himself. 

We  ought  not  to  live  in  a town  where  there  is 
no  physician. 

♦ 

BLESSINGS  OF  POVERTY 

The  noblest  of  all  charities  lies  in  enabling  the 
poor  to  earn  a livelihood. 

Be  mindful  of  the  children  of  the  poor,  for 
learning  comes  from  them. 

Honor  the  sons  of  the  poor;  it  is  they  who 
bring  science  into  splendor. 

Poverty  sits  as  gracefully  upon  some  people  as 
a red  saddie  upon  a white  horse. 

♦ 

ETIOUETTE 

Be  always  pleasant  at  your  entering  and  at 
your  leaving 


9 


WISDOM  AND  WIT 


Never  shall  a man  enter  the  house  of  his 
neighbor  without  permission  and  this  conduct 
learn  from  the  Holy  One,  blessed  be  He,  who 
stood  at  the  gate  of  the  garden  and  called  to 
Adam  (Gen.  ill,  9)  “Where  art  thou?” 

♦ 

BUSINESS 

If  certain  goods  sell  not  in  one  city,  try  an- 
other place. 

Attend  no  auctions  if  thou  hast  no  money. 

Make  but  one  sale  and  thou  art  called  a mer- 
chant. 

He  who  walks  each  day  over  his  estate  finds 
a coin  daily. 

Deal  with  those  who  are  fortunate. 

If  thou  hast  borrowed  money,  know  that  thou 
hast  borrowed  it  to  be  repaid  in  time — if  thou 
hast  loaned  money  to  somebody,  be  prepared  to 
have  difficulty  in  collecting  it. 

♦ 

LIFE 

Life  is  a passing  shadow,  says  the  Scripture. 
Is  it  the  shadow  of  a tower  or  a tree?  A shadow 
that  prevails  for  a while?  No;  It  is  the  shadow 
of  a bird  in  its  flight; — away  flies  the  bird  and 
there  is  neither  shadow  or  bird. 

What  should  man  do  In  order  to  die?  Give 
himself  entirely  to  life. 

♦ 

JUDGEMENT  AND  ATONEMENT 

One  who  says,  “I  will  sin  and  then  do  repen- 
tence”,  is  not  afforded  the  opportunity  to  re- 
pent: “I  will  sin  and  the  day  of  Atonement  will 
atone  for  it”,  or,  “I  will  sin,  and  the  day  of 
death  will  wipe  it  out” — it  does  not  do  so. 

Do  not  slander,  for  on  the  day  of  judgement 
the  mouth  will  be  the  first  to  give  account. 

10 


OF  THE  TALMUD 


He  who  wishes  to  be  forgiven,  must  forgive. 

Your  feet  that  have  not  carried  you  to  sin, 
what  can  the  Angel  of  Wrath  do  with  you? 

♦ 

TALMUDIC  TREASURE  TROVE 

The  fortune  of  this  world  is  like  a wheel  with 
two  buckets;  the  full  bucket  empties  and  the 
empty  fills. 

The  best  preacher  is  the  heart;  the  best 
teacher  is  time;  the  best  book  is  the  world;  and 
the  best  friend  is  God. 

Three  names  were  given  to  man:  one  by  his 
parents;  another  by  the  world;  a third  by  his 
works  which  are  written  in  the  Immortal  book  of 
his  fate. 

If  the  fox  is  king,  bow  before  him. 

Speech  is  the  messenger  of  the  heart. 

If  a word  spoken  in  its  time  is  worth  one  piece 
of  money,  silence  in  its  time  is  worth  two. 

To  be  patient  is  sometimes  better  than  to  have 
much  wealth. 

Few  are  they  who  see  their  own  faults. 

A myrtle  even  in  the  desert  remains  a myrtle. 

The  cock  and  the  owl  both  await  daylight. 
‘•The  light,”  says  the  cock,  “brings  me  to  life; 
but  what  in  the  world  art  thou  waiting  for?” 

Iron  breaks  stones;  fire  melts  iron;  water  ex- 
tinguishes fire;  the  clouds  consume  water;  the 
storm  dispels  clouds;  man  withstands  the  storm; 
fear  conquers  man:  wine  banishes  fear;  sleeD 
overcomes  wine;  death  is  the  master  of  sleep; 
but  "Charity,”  says  Solomon,  “saves  even  from 
death.” 

Beat  the  gods  and  their  priests  tremble. 

Thy  yesterday  is  thy  past;  thy  today  is  thy 
future;  thy  tomorrow  is  a secret. 

11 


WISDOM  AND  WIT 


He  who  possesses  a knowledge  of  God  and  a 
knowledge  of  man  will  not  easily  commit  sin. 

The  shepherd  is  lame  and  the  goats  are  nimble, 
but  at  the  entrance  of  the  fold  they  will  have  to 
meet  him  and  at  the  door  of  the  stable  they  will 
be  counted. 

If  the  thief  has  no  opportunity,  he  thinks  him- 
self honorable. 

Those  who  when  offended  do  not  give  offense, 
and  when  hearing  slighting  remarks  do  not  re- 
taliate, these  are  the  friends  of  God;  they  shall 
shine  forth  like  the  sun  in  its  glory. 

Neither  the  security  of  the  wicked  nor  the 
afflictions  of  the  righteous  are  within  the  grasp 
of  our  understanding. 

This  world  is  the  antechamber  of  the  world 
hereafter;  therefore,  prepare  thyself  in  the  ante- 
chamber, that  thou  mayest  be  admitted  into  the 
banqueting  hall. 

Do  not  seek  to  appease  thy  friend  in  the  hour 
of  his  passion;  do  not  seek  to  console  him  when 
his  dead  is  laid  out  before  him;  and  do  not  in- 
terrogate him  in  the  hour  of  his  vow,  and  strive 
not  to  see  him  in  the  hour  of  his  disgrace. 

♦ 

“ORIENT  PEARLS  AT  RANDOM  STRUNG" 

Set  thyself  to  learn  the  law,  for  it  is  not  an 
heirloom  unto  thee. 

If  I do  not  care  for  myself  who  will  do  It  for 
me?  And  if  I care  only  for  myself,  what  am  I? 

The  pious  fool  and  the  hypocrite  are  destroyers 
of  human  society. 

Two  pieces  of  coin  in  one  bag  make  more  noise 
than  one  hundred. 

If  thou  tellest  thy  secret  to  three  persons,  ten 
know  of  it. 


12 


OF  THE  TALMUD 


When  love  Is  intense  both  find  room  enough 
upon  one  board  of  the  bench;  afterwards  they 
may  find  themselves  cramped  in  a space  of  fifty 
sublts. 

♦ 

THE  WISDOM  OF  THE  AMOR  A I M 

When  the  ox  is  down,  many  are  the  butchers. 

The  cat  and  the  rat  make  peace  over  a carcass. 

The  sun  will  set  without  any  assistance. 

When  the  shepherd  is  angry  with  his  flock,  he 
appoints  for  their  leader  a blind  bell-wether. 

There  are  three  crowns— of  the  law,  the  priest- 
hood, and  the  kingship,  but  the  crown  of  a good 
name  is  greater  than  them  all. 

Even  for  the  rebuilding  of  the  Temple,  the  in- 
struction of  the  children  must  not  be  inter- 
rupted. 

God  looks  to  the  heart  of  man,  then  to  the 
mind. 

Ignorance  and  conceit  go  hand  In  hand. 

Look  upon  fools  as  empty  shadows. 

Alas  for  one  thing  that  goes  and  never  returns. 
What  is  It?  Youth. 

Dignity  does  not  consist  in  a silk  dress. 

If  It  be  thy  wish  to  be  kept  away  from  sin, 
always  look  at  the  result  of  it. 

Be  as  the  lower  threshold,  upon  which  all  peo- 
ple tread,  and  still  it  lasts  even  when  the  whole 
building  is  demolished. 

Look  not  upon  the  pitcher,  but  upon  what  it 
contains.  Many  a new  pitcher  is  full  of  old  wine, 
and  many  a old  one  does  not  even  hold  new 
wine. 

Think  of  a palace  In  the  center  of  which  the 
vat  of  a farmer  is  placed;  so  is  a handsome  and 
respected  man  who  lets  an  unbecoming  vow  pass 
his  lips. 


13 


WISDOM  AND  WIT 


Seven  things  mark  the  clod,  and  seven  there 
are  for  the  sage — The  wise  man  does  not  speak 
before  those  who  surpass  him  in  wisdom  and 
years;  he  does  not  interrupt  another  in  his 
speech;  he  Is  not  hasty  in  answering;  he  does 
not  ask  questions  rashly,  but  asks  them  with 
propriety  and  to  the  point;  he  speaks  first  upon 
the  matter  first  in  order,  and  last  upon  the  last: 
when  he  does  not  understand  the  matter  under 
discussion,  he  confesses,  “I  do  not  understand 
it”,  and  he  admits  it  when  he  has  been  con- 
vinced. The  opposites  of  these  things  mark  the 
clod. 

♦ 

TRENCHANT  THOUGHTS  OF  RIGHTEOUS 
RABBIS 

If  you  are  questioned  on  the  most  unimportant 
matter  and  you  do  not  know  it,  be  not  ashamed 
to  say,  “I  do  not  know.’ 

Do  not  make  thy  merit  as  a crown  to  be  glori- 
fied by  it,  and  not  as  a hatchet  to  cleave  with  It. 
nor  a spade  to  dig  with  it. 

Be  afraid  of  a light  sin,  for  this  may  bring  you 
to  a grave  one. 

Take  care  that  thou  shouldst  not  need  to  bow 
to  some  one  on  account  of  thine  own  works. 

The  beauty  of  the  law  is  wisdom;  the  beauty 
of  wisdom  Is  modesty;  the  beauty  of  modesty  is 
the  fear  of  Heaven;  the  beauty  of  the  fear  of 
Heaven  is  noble  performance;  the  beauty  of 
noble  performance  is  secrecy. 

A single  light  answers  as  well  for  a hundred 
nen  as  for  one. 

Let  not  your  ears  listen  to  vain  talk,  for  they 
are  most  likely  to  get  burned. 

Say  little  "yea”  and  little  “nay”. 

Your  mouth  that  has  studied  the  Torah  will  be 
a blessing  to  those  who  wish  to  be  blessed. 

14 


THE  NEW  10-VOLUME 

After-the-War  Edition 

OF 

THK  TALMUD  IN  ENGLISH 

(Including  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  TALMUDi 

Is  Creating  a World-wide  Sensation. 

Each  book  is  9 7-8  inches  high  by  6 5-8  inches 
wide.  The  width  of  the  set  is  17  inches. 

Each  book  is  handsomely  stamped  in  genuine 
gold,  and  superbly  printed  in  antique  wove 
deckle-edge  paper,  with  go'd  tops. 

This  special  paper  is  expressly  made  for  the 
Talmud  Society,  and  bears  its  watermark. 

SEE  COUPON  ON  BACK  OF 
THIS  PAGE 


LUZAC  & CO. 

45,  GREAT  RUSSELL  ROAD, 
(Opposite  the  British  Museum) 
LONDON,  W.  C. 


THE  TALMUD 
IN  ENGLISH 

ORICINAL  TEXT  TRANSLATED: 
FORMULATED:  AND  EDITED 
BY  MICHAEL  L.  RODKINSON 

to  ohich  is  added 

The  History  of  the  Talmud 


PRICES 

„„  the  New  10-Volnu.e  After-the- War  Edition, 
inelndinil  THK  HISTORY  OF  THE  TALMUD 


Se.  beel>  rover  page  lor  de.eril.tie" 


BINDINGS 

Bound  In  T-pattern  Holliston 

Cloth  (as  shown  above) 

Bound  in  Three-quarters  Morocco 

Bound  in  Full  Morocco 


£10 

£15 

£20 


UKTACH  THIS  COUPON.  MAIL  TO-DAY 

LUZAC  & CO. 

45,  GREAT  RUSSELL  ROAD, 

(Opposite  the  British  Museum) 

LONDON,  W.  C. 

Enclosed  please  find  in  ,u*' 

payment  tor  the  Special  After-the- War  Edition 
of  THE  TALMUD  IN  ENGLISH,  Including  the 

History  of  the  Talmud,  in 

binding. 

Name 


Full  Address 


